PCS Resources
How School Liaisons Help Military Kids Thrive
Changing schools is one of the toughest parts of a PCS move for children. School liaison officers exist to make that transition smoother for your entire family.
What School Liaisons Do
Every major military installation has a School Liaison Officer (SLO) whose sole job is to support military-connected students and their families. School liaisons work directly with local school districts, helping families navigate enrollment, understand academic requirements, and resolve issues that arise from frequent relocations.
Think of your school liaison as a dedicated advocate for your child's education. They understand both the military lifestyle and the local school system, and they can step in when those two worlds create friction — whether it is a question about grade placement, course equivalencies, or eligibility for sports and extracurricular activities.
Find your school liaison: Use MilitaryINSTALLATIONS to look up the school liaison officer at your gaining installation. Reach out before your move so they can start connecting you with the right schools and resources.
Enrollment Assistance & Records Transfer
One of the most common pain points for military families is the gap between leaving one school and enrolling in another. School liaisons help eliminate that gap. They can connect you with the receiving school district before you arrive, answer questions about required documents, and ensure your child's academic records are transferred in a timely manner.
In most cases, your child can begin attending classes immediately — even if official transcripts and immunization records have not arrived yet. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which Texas fully supports, requires schools to accept unofficial records for enrollment purposes and to request official documents within a reasonable timeframe.
Your school liaison can also help with grade and course placement. If your child was enrolled in honors or advanced courses at their previous school, the liaison works with the new school to ensure they are placed appropriately — not held back because the curriculum names do not match.
Special Education & EFMP Support
For families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), school transitions require extra coordination. Children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans need continuity of services, and that does not happen automatically when you cross state lines.
School liaisons work hand-in-hand with EFMP coordinators to ensure your child's accommodations transfer with them. They can set up meetings with the receiving school's special education team before your family arrives, review existing IEP documents, and advocate for comparable services in the new district.
Tip: Request a copy of your child's complete educational records — including IEP meeting notes, evaluation reports, and progress monitoring data — before you leave your current installation. Having these documents in hand gives the receiving school everything they need to maintain services without delay.
Homeschool Resources
Some military families choose homeschooling to provide educational consistency across frequent moves. Texas is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country, with minimal regulatory requirements. Your school liaison can connect you with homeschool support groups on and near the installation, as well as resources for curriculum planning and standardized testing.
If you are transitioning from homeschool to public or private school (or vice versa), the liaison can help you understand how credits and grade placement will be handled in the Texas school system.
College Prep for Military Teens
High school students face unique challenges during a PCS. Graduation requirements vary by state, and a mid-year move can jeopardize course sequences, GPA calculations, and college application timelines. School liaisons can help your teenager understand how their credits will transfer, which courses they need to graduate on time, and how to present their military-connected background as a strength on college applications.
The Interstate Compact includes protections specifically for military teens, such as waiving certain course requirements if the student is unable to complete them due to a PCS, and allowing seniors to graduate from the sending school if a move occurs during their final year.
Texas Schools & Military Families
Texas is a member of the Interstate Compact, meaning your children's school records transfer smoothly between states. The Texas Education Agency also has provisions that support military-connected students, including flexible enrollment timelines and protections for students whose parents are deployed.
If you are relocating to the DFW metroplex, you will have access to some of the highest-rated public school districts in the state. DFW has award-winning school districts like Frisco ISD, Plano ISD, and Allen ISD, all of which have experience serving military families and offer strong academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
Choosing the right neighborhood matters. When I help military families find a home in Texas, school district quality is always part of the conversation. The right location means your children get a great education and you get a shorter commute to the installation.
FAQ
Common Questions
What does a school liaison officer do?
School liaison officers serve as the bridge between military families and local school systems. They help with enrollment, records transfer, grade placement, and special education coordination. They also advocate for your child when school policies conflict with the realities of military life, such as frequent moves or a parent's deployment.
How do school records transfer between states during a PCS?
Under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, participating states — including Texas — are required to facilitate timely records transfer. Your school liaison can initiate the process before you arrive, ensuring transcripts, immunization records, and IEP documents are sent to the receiving school. In most cases, your child can enroll immediately even if records have not arrived yet.
What support is available for military children with special education needs?
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) works alongside school liaisons to ensure children with IEPs or 504 plans receive continuity of services during a PCS. Your school liaison can connect you with the receiving school's special education department before you move, helping preserve accommodations and therapies your child depends on.
What is the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children?
The Interstate Compact is an agreement among all 50 states and Washington, D.C. that addresses common challenges military children face when transferring between school systems. It covers enrollment, placement, eligibility for extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and records transfer. Texas is a full member, which means your children benefit from these protections when moving to or from the state.
Source: Military OneSource — Education & Schools. Content has been adapted for Texas-based military families.
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